Raphinha's ex-Leeds United teammate eyes World Cup reunion, but focus stays on Neymar | OneFootball

Crysencio Summerville has jokingly called out former Leeds United teammate Raphinha for not getting in contact after his first World Cup goal, and says facing idol Neymar would be a boyhood dream.

The West Ham winger earned a first Netherlands call-up for this summer’s tournament, debuted in a warm-up defeat to Algeria, then opened his account with a curling left-footed finish in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Japan. Raphinha is at his second World Cup, failed to score in Qatar and did not play a major role in last week’s 1-1 draw with Morocco.

“I love watching football, seeing how everyone plays, and discovering new tactics,” he told Voetbal International.

“The nice thing is that we do that as a team, together. Even back then, I was already watching clips of him [Neymar] on YouTube. Playing against him would truly be a boyhood dream; he is my idol. And yes, then I also run into Raphinha. No, he hasn’t called me yet after my goal against Japan.”

The former Leeds pair could meet in the knockout stages if Brazil face the Netherlands. Summerville has been starting on the right for the Dutch, and Saturday’s game against Sweden could pit him directly against current Whites squad member Gabriel Gudmundsson.

Sweden top Group F after the only opening win, a 5-1 thumping of Tunisia, a result that led to the sacking of Sabri Lamouchi. Any result for Gudmundsson’s side would put them close to the knockouts ahead of their final group match with Ao Tanaka’s Japan.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk